What Eats Asparagus in Ohio, and When
No insect, deer or rabbit appears in the sources behind this page, and neither does a date for when any of them show up, so there is no pest calendar here.
Ohio
Home and garden guidance specific to Ohio: climate, seasons, local rules and rebates.
Gardening in Ohio
Everything we have worked out for Ohio: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Columbus, the last spring freeze runs May 5 to May 15 and the first fall freeze runs October 5 to October 15, USDA zones 5b-6b, 3,783 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 21.8 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Ohio: lawn care, soil and amendments, watering, flowers and borders and the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
What Eats Spinach in Ohio, and When
In Ohio, the thing that eats spinach on schedule is the calendar, not an insect.
What Eats Corn in Ohio, and When
Ohio sweet corn reaches the table on a schedule set by three things: soil temperature, the length of the season, and which types are tasseling next to…
What Eats Pumpkin in Ohio, and When
Frost is the one thing that eats Ohio pumpkins on a fixed schedule, and it works by calendar, not appetite.
How High to Mow a Lawn in Ohio
Most Ohio lawns should be mowed between 1.5 and 3.5 inches, depending on the grass. Tall fescue wants 3 to 3.5 inches.
When to Plant Grass Seed in Ohio
Cool-season grass seed needs soil at 50 to 65 °F and about 45 days of growing weather before the first fall freeze.
When to Dethatch a Lawn in Ohio
Most Ohio lawns do not need dethatching. Cut a wedge of turf with a spade and measure the brown, spongy layer between the green blades and the soil.
Heat Pump or Gas Furnace in Ohio: Which Costs Less to Run?
On Ohio’s average residential prices, a natural gas furnace costs less to run than a heat pump, and both beat electric baseboard by a wide margin.
How Late Can You Plant Trees and Shrubs in Fall in Ohio?
The safe target for planting trees and shrubs in Ohio is six weeks before the first fall frost.
When to Mulch Strawberries and Perennials for Winter in Ohio
Wait for the ground to freeze. In Ohio, that means putting winter mulch on strawberries and perennials in late fall, after the first frost (October 5 to…